Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

A power transmission device includes a gear speed reduction mechanism
which includes an input shaft, an input pinion provided on the input
shaft, a rotary shaft other than the input shaft, and a gear incorporated
to the rotary shaft, and a casing which accommodates the gear speed
reduction mechanism. The casing is made of resin and includes a casing
body which includes an incorporating opening for incorporating the gear
and a cover which closes the incorporating opening. The casing body
includes an input side opening with the opening being a size that the
input pinion can be inserted but the gear cannot be inserted. In
addition, the rotary shaft is supported by a bearing support which is
formed in the casing body, and the bearing support of the rotary shaft is
not formed on the cover.

Claims:

1. A power transmission device comprising: a gear speed reduction
mechanism which includes an input shaft, an input pinion provided on the
input shaft, a rotary shaft other than the input shaft, and a gear
incorporated to the rotary shaft; and a casing which accommodates the
gear speed reduction mechanism, wherein the casing is made of resin and
includes a casing body which includes an incorporating opening for
incorporating the gear and a cover which closes the incorporating
opening, wherein the casing body includes an input side opening with the
opening being a size that the input pinion can be inserted but the gear
cannot be inserted, and wherein the rotary shaft is supported by a
bearing support which is formed in the casing body, and the bearing
support of the rotary shaft is not formed on the cover.

2. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the input
pinion is an orthogonal pinion, wherein the input side opening and the
incorporating opening are provided on opposite surfaces of the casing
body respectively, and wherein the bearing support is formed on a surface
which intersects a surface on which the input side opening is provided
and a surface on which the incorporating opening is provided.

3. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein a
stiffened member made of metal is disposed in the incorporating opening.

4. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein a tubular
portion for connecting a motor or a motor connection member is formed in
an input side of the casing body, and a stiffened member made of metal is
disposed in an inner circumference of the tubular portion.

5. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the
incorporating opening includes a portion in which an opening height is
larger than an outer diameter of an output gear which is incorporated to
an output shaft of gears incorporated to the rotary shaft, and a portion
in which an opening height is smaller than the outer diameter of the
output gear.

6. The power transmission device according to claim 1, wherein a recess
is formed in the cover, and a portion of the gear enters the recess.

7. A manufacturing method of a power transmission device which includes a
gear speed reduction mechanism including an input shaft, an input pinion
provided on the input shaft, a rotary shaft other than the input shaft,
and a gear incorporated to the rotary shaft, and a casing made of resin
accommodating the gear speed reduction mechanism, comprising: preparing a
casing body which includes an input side opening through which the input
pinion is inserted, an incorporating opening to which the gear is
incorporated, and a bearing support which supports the rotary shaft, and
a cover which closes the incorporating opening, as the casing; putting
the gear from the incorporating opening into the casing body and
positioning the gear to an opening of the bearing support formed in the
casing body; inserting the rotary shaft from the opening of the bearing
support, and assembling the gear, which is positioned to the opening of
the bearing support in advance, to the inserted rotary shaft; disposing
the bearing between the rotary shaft and the opening of the bearing
support, and bearing-supporting the rotary shaft in the casing body;
closing the incorporating opening by the cover; and inserting the input
pinion into the input side opening, and engaging the input pinion with
the gear which is incorporated in advance.

Description:

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0001] Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-237320,
filed Oct. 26, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a power transmission device and a
manufacturing method thereof.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In the related art, a power transmission device is disclosed which
includes a gear speed reduction mechanism including an input shaft, an
input pinion provided on the input shaft, a rotary shaft other than the
input shaft, and a gear incorporated to the rotary shaft, and a casing
accommodating the gear speed reduction mechanism.

[0006] In this type of power transmission device, in the related art, a
casing made of aluminum or a casing made by casting is used.
Alternatively, for example, in a power transmission device or the like
which is used in a food factory or the like, a casing made of stainless
steel may be used.

SUMMARY

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is a
power transmission device including: a gear speed reduction mechanism
which includes an input shaft, an input pinion provided on the input
shaft, a rotary shaft other than the input shaft, and a gear incorporated
to the rotary shaft, and a casing which accommodates the gear speed
reduction mechanism. The casing is made of resin and includes a casing
body which includes an incorporating opening for incorporating the gear
and a cover which closes the incorporating opening. The casing body
includes an input side opening with the opening being a size that the
input pinion can be inserted but the gear cannot be inserted. In
addition, the rotary shaft is supported by a bearing support which is
formed in the casing body, and the bearing support of the rotary shaft is
not formed on the cover.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a manufacturing method of a power transmission device which
includes a gear speed reduction mechanism including an input shaft, an
input pinion provided on the input shaft, a rotary shaft other than the
input shaft, and a gear incorporated to the rotary shaft, and a casing
made of resin accommodating the gear speed reduction mechanism. The
manufacturing method includes: preparing a casing body which includes an
input side opening through which the input pinion is inserted, an
incorporating opening to which the gear is incorporated, and a bearing
support which supports the rotary shaft, and a cover which closes the
incorporating opening, as the casing; putting the gear from the
incorporating opening into the casing body and positioning the gear to an
opening of the bearing support formed in the casing body; inserting the
rotary shaft from the opening of the bearing support, and assembling the
gear, which is positioned to the opening of the bearing support in
advance, to the inserted rotary shaft; disposing the bearing between the
rotary shaft and the opening of the bearing support, and
bearing-supporting the rotary shaft in the casing body; closing the
incorporating opening by the cover; and inserting the input pinion into
the input side opening, and engaging the input pinion with the gear which
is incorporated in advance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view including partially
developed cross-sections taken along an arrow I-I of FIG. 2A of a power
transmission device showing an example of an embodiment of the present
invention.

[0010] FIG. 2A is a front view of the power transmission device of FIG. 1,
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along an arrow IIB-IIB of FIG.
2A, FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along an arrow IIC-IIC of
FIG. 2B, and FIG. 2D is a side view when viewed in an arrow IID direction
of FIG. 2A.

[0011] FIG. 3A is a rear view in which a motor side of FIG. 3A is
maintained in the same direction as FIG. 2A in the power transmission
device of FIG. 1, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along an arrow
IIIB-IIIB of FIG. 3A, FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along an
arrow IIIC-IIIC of FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3D is a side view when viewed in an
arrow IIID direction of FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In the related art, in the power transmission device which adopts
the casing made of metal, there are problems in that the overall weight
becomes heavy and the costs are increased, and the problems cannot be
avoided.

[0013] In terms of the weight and costs, a "resin" is taken into
consideration as a material of the casing instead of the metal. However,
when the casing made of metal is simply replaced by the casing made of
resin, a decrease in strength or rigidity cannot be avoided.

[0014] It is desirable to provide a power transmission device capable of
suppressing a decrease in strength or rigidity as much as possible while
adopting a casing made of resin having a reduction in weight and low
costs, and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0015] In the embodiment of the present invention, the casing is
configured of the casing body which includes the incorporating opening to
which the gear (other than the input pinion) is incorporated, and the
cover which closes the incorporating opening. The input pinion is
incorporated into the casing from the input side opening which is
separately formed in the casing body. The size of the input side opening
is set to a size that the input pinion can be inserted but the gear
cannot be inserted.

[0016] Moreover, the rotary shaft is configured to be supported by the
bearing support, and the bearing support is formed only on the casing
body and is not formed on the cover.

[0017] Accordingly, the size of the opening portion of the casing can be
further decreased, and thus, rigidity of the casing body can be further
increased. Moreover, since the bearing support which supports the rotary
shaft is formed in the casing body having high rigidity, the rotary shaft
can be rotated in a considerably stable state.

[0018] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a power
transmission device capable of suppressing a decrease in strength or
rigidity as much as possible while adopting a casing made of resin having
a reduction in weight and low costs, and a manufacturing method thereof
can be obtained.

[0019] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a power transmission
device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to drawings.

[0020] FIGS. 1 to 3D show a speed reduction device G1 (power transmission
device) according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention
in various directions and cross-sections.

[0021] Moreover, FIG. 3A is not a rear view when viewed from a rear
surface in a state where up and down directions are maintained with
respect to FIG. 2 but a rear view (reversed in the up and down
directions) when viewed from a rear surface in a state where left and
right directions are maintained with respect to FIG. 2.

[0022] When the speed reduction device G1 is schematically described, the
speed reduction device G1 is used to be connected via a motor (not shown)
and a splice casing 12.

[0024] The gear speed reduction mechanism 14 includes an input shaft 18, a
hypoid pinion 20 (input pinion) provided on the input shaft 18, an
intermediate shaft 22A and an output shaft 22B which are rotary shafts 22
other than the input shaft 18, and a hypoid gear 24A (orthogonal gear),
an intermediate gear 24B, and an output gear 24C which are gears 24
(other than the input pinion) which are incorporated in the rotary shaft
22.

[0025] The casing 16 is made of a resin. The casing 16 includes a casing
body 30, which includes an incorporating opening 26 for incorporating the
gear 24 (hypoid gear 24A, intermediate gear 24B, and output gear 24C),
and a cover 32 which closes the incorporating opening 26.

[0026] The casing body 30 further includes an input side opening 34 with
the opening being a size that the hypoid pinion 20 (input pinion) can be
inserted but the gear 24 (hypoid gear 24A, intermediate gear 24B, and
output gear 24C) cannot be inserted. The rotary shaft 22 (intermediate
shaft 22A and output shaft 22B) is supported by first bearing supports 36
and 37 and second bearing supports 38 and 39 which are formed in the
casing body 30. However, the bearing supports of the rotary shaft 22 are
not formed on the cover 32.

[0027] Hereinafter, the speed reduction device will be sequentially
described in detail.

[0028] The splice casing 12 (an input shaft support member which is also
used as a motor connection member) is provided between the motor and the
speed reduction device G1. The input shaft 18 of the speed reduction
device G1 is supported to the splice casing 12 via bearings 41 and 42. In
a state where the input shaft 18 is supported to the splice casing 12,
the input shaft 18 is inserted into the casing 16 from the input side
opening 34 of the casing 16 of the speed reduction device G1. Moreover,
the splice casing 12 may not be necessary. For example, a motor shaft of
the motor is also used as the input shaft of the speed reduction device,
an input pinion is formed on the tip of the motor shaft, and the input
pinion of the tip of the motor shaft may be inserted into the casing of
the speed reduction device. Alternatively, for example, when the input
side opening of the speed reduction device has some axial length, the
input shaft may be supported by a bearing which is disposed in the input
side opening. Moreover, also in this case, the input side opening has the
size which does not allow the insertion of the gears other than the input
shaft.

[0029] The hypoid pinion 20 (input pinion) is formed on the input shaft
18. The hypoid pinion 20 is engaged with the hypoid gear 24A which is
incorporated to the intermediate shaft 22A. The intermediate gear 24B is
formed on the intermediate shaft 22A in a direct cut manner. The
intermediate gear 24B is engaged with the output gear 24C which is
incorporated to the output shaft 22B. In this embodiment, all power
transmission members (input shaft 18, hypoid pinion 20, rotary shaft 22,
and gear 24) other than the casing 16 are formed of metal. That is, in a
power transmission system, the configuration and the material are similar
as those of the related art.

[0030] As described above, the casing 16 of the speed reduction device G1
according to the present embodiment is configured of the casing body 30
and the cover 32. First, a configuration of the casing body 30 will be
described in detail.

[0031] The overall shape of the casing body 30 is an approximately
rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the casing body includes the input
side opening 34, the incorporating opening 26, the first bearing supports
36 and 37, and the second bearing supports 38 and 39.

[0032] The input side opening 34 of the casing body 30 has the size that
the hypoid pinion 20 can be inserted but the gear 24 (hypoid gear 24A,
intermediate gear 24B, and output gear 24C) cannot be inserted, that is,
has a minimum size required to insert the hypoid pinion 20. The hypoid
pinion 20 is inserted into the casing body 30 from the input side opening
34 and is engaged with the hypoid gear 24A in the casing body 30. Since
the hypoid pinion 20 is engaged with the hypoid gear 24A in a state where
the rotary shaft center of the hypoid pinion is offset from that of the
hypoid gear in not only an axial direction but also a radial direction,
the input side opening 34 is formed at a position which is offset by
δ1 from a center of a side surface of the casing body 30.

[0033] In the present embodiment, a quadrilateral tubular portion 46 for
connecting the splice casing 12 is formed to be protruded on a surface
30a (a surface of an input side of the casing body 30) on which the input
side opening 34 is formed. A ring-like stiffened member 48 made of metal
is positioned on a corner of an inner circumference of the tubular
portion 46. Accordingly, strength and rigidity of the surface 30a, on
which the input side opening 34 of the casing body 30 is formed, are
increased.

[0034] The incorporating opening 26 of the casing body 30 is formed on a
surface 30b of a side opposite to the motor. That is, the input side
opening 34 and the incorporating opening 26 are provided on opposite
surfaces 30a and 30b of the casing body 30 respectively. Since the size
of the gear 24 (hypoid gear 24A, intermediate gear 24B, and output gear
24C) other than the hypoid pinion 20 is larger than that of the input
side opening 34, all the gears are incorporated to the incorporating
opening 26.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3B, the incorporating opening 26 is not a simple
quadrilateral in shape, and includes a portion 26a in which an opening
height (an opening width in a direction perpendicular to the output shaft
22B) h1 is larger than an outer diameter d2 of the output gear 24C
incorporated to the output shaft 22B and a portion 26b in which an
opening height h2 is smaller than the outer diameter d2. Here, the
opening height of the incorporating opening 26 means a size in a
direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the output shaft 22B of
the incorporating opening 26. In other words, the incorporating opening
26 includes the portion 26a in which the opening height h1 is larger than
the outer diameter d2 of the output gear 24C and the output shaft 22B can
be incorporated, and the portion 26b in which the opening height h2 is
smaller than the outer diameter d2 of the output gear 24C and the output
shaft 22B cannot be incorporated.

[0036] In addition, in this embodiment, a closed quadrilateral (ring-like)
stiffened member 61 made of metal is also disposed around the
incorporating opening 26, and thus, strength and rigidity in the vicinity
of the incorporating opening 26 of the casing body 30 are further
increased. Specifically, a recess is formed in the inner side of the
incorporating opening 26 of the casing body 30, and the stiffened member
61 is disposed in the recess and is interposed between the cover 32 and
the recess.

[0037] Returning to FIG. 1, the casing body 30 further includes the first
bearing supports 36 and 37 for supporting the intermediate shaft 22A and
the second bearing supports 38 and 39 which support the output shaft 22B.
As is obvious from FIGS. 2 and 3, the first bearing supports 36 and 37
and the second bearing supports 38 and 39 are formed on surfaces 30c and
30d which intersect (perpendicular in this example) the surfaces 30a and
30b (opposite surfaces of the casing body 30) on which the input side
opening 34 and the incorporating opening 26 are provided.

[0038] First openings 50 and 51 (specifically, first inner openings 50A
and 51A and first outer openings 50B and 51B) are formed on the first
bearing supports 36 and 37 which support the intermediate shaft 22A. The
inner diameter of the first opening 50 of the first bearing support 36
close to the hypoid gear 24A is D4, and the inner diameter of the first
opening 51 of the first bearing support 37 far from the hypoid gear 24A
is D5 which is smaller than D4 (D4>D5). First bearings 60 and 62 are
disposed in the first inner openings 50A and 51A respectively. First
retaining rings 52 and 53 are fit to ends in the radial direction of the
first inner openings 50A and 51A and lock the first bearings 60 and 62.
Caps 54 and 55 are covered on the first outer openings 50B and 51B
respectively. In the first openings 50 and 51 of the first bearing
supports 36 and 37, since the smaller first opening 51 is also larger
than a maximum outer diameter d6 of the intermediate shaft 22A, the
intermediate shaft 22A can be incorporated into the casing 16 from the
first opening 50 of the first bearing support 36 (close to the hypoid
gear 24A) or the first opening 51 of the opposite first bearing support
37 from the outside of the casing body 30.

[0039] Moreover, in the first bearings 60 and 62, the reason why the left
and the right of the intermediate shaft 22A are different from each other
on the paper surface of FIG. 1 is because the right side on the paper
surface is shown in a developed cross-section. The first bearings 60 and
62 may be the same as each other, and on the contrary to the embodiment,
D4<D5 may be satisfied.

[0040] The second bearing supports 38 and 39 which support the output
shaft 22B also includes an approximately similar configuration to the
first bearing supports 36 and 37. That is, also in the second bearing
supports 38 and 39, second openings 56 and 57 (second inner openings 56A
and 57A and second outer rings 56B and 57B) are formed. The second
openings 56 and 57 of the second bearing supports 38 and 39 include an
inner diameter D7 which is the same as the both ends of the output shaft
22B. Output shaft bearings 64 and 66 are fitted to the second inner
openings 56A and 57A. Second retaining rings 58 and 59 are fitted to the
ends in the radial direction of the second inner openings 56A and 57A and
lock the output shaft bearings 64 and 66. Unlike the intermediate shaft
22A, since the output shaft 22B protrudes outside the casing body 30, oil
seals 70 and 71 are disposed on the second outer rings 56B and 57B.
Accordingly, sealing between the output shaft 22B and the casing body 30
is performed. Also in the second bearing supports 38 and 39, since the
inner diameter D7 of the second openings 56 and 57 is larger than a
maximum outer diameter d8 of the output shaft 22B, the output shaft 22B
can be incorporated into the casing 16 from the second opening 56 of the
second bearing support 38 (close to the output gear 24C) or the second
opening 57 of the opposite second bearing support 39 from the outside of
the casing body 30.

[0041] An internal shape of the casing body 30 will be described. As is
obvious from the comparison between cross-sections of FIG. 2C and FIG.
3C, in this embodiment, the thickness of the casing body 30 at the
surface perpendicular to the output shaft 22B is not the same at each
position (position of FIG. 2C and position of FIG. 3C) in the axial
direction.

[0042] That is, for example, in the cross-section of the center in the
axial direction (cross-section of FIG. 2C: position separated from the
output gear 24C), the same thicknesses m1 and m11 are maintained from the
incorporating opening 26, and the thickness is thickened to correspond to
the outer diameter d3 of the hypoid gear 24A only at the motor side.
Moreover, in the cross-section of FIG. 2C, that is, in the cross-section
perpendicular to the output shaft 22B, the thickness m1 of the casing
body 30 of the side (the lower side in FIG. 2A to 2D), to which the input
shaft 18 (or the splice casing 12 which supports the input shaft 18) is
shifted (by the δ1) from the center of the casing 16 in the axial
direction of the output shaft 22B, is formed to be thicker than the
thickness m11 of the counter-shift side.

[0043] Moreover, in the cross-section of the position (position of FIG.
3C) in the axial direction in which the output gear 24C exists,
thicknesses m3 and m13 of the casing body 30 are thinnest in the vicinity
of the output gear 24C close to the incorporating opening 26, and the
casing body 30 is gradually (linearly) thickened from the vicinity of the
output gear 24C to thicknesses m4 and m14, is further thickened so as to
correspond the outer diameter d3 of the hypoid gear 24A in the vicinity
of the bearing of the intermediate shaft 22A, and finally, is integrated
with the side surface 30a of the input side. In addition, also in the
cross-section perpendicular to the output shaft 22B at the position of
FIG. 3C, the thicknesses m3 and m4 of the side (the upper side in FIG. 3A
to 3D), to which the input shaft 18 (or the splice casing 12 which
supports the input shaft 18) is shifted (by the δ1) from the center
of the casing 16 in the axial direction of the output shaft 22B, are
formed to be thicker than the thicknesses m13 and m14 of the
counter-shift side.

[0044] Meanwhile, the cover 32 of the casing 16 which closes the
incorporating opening 26 is quadrilateral which is the same shape as the
side surface shape of the casing body 30. In this embodiment, the cover
32 is fixed to the side surface 30b of the side opposite to the motor of
the casing body 30 by four bolts 80 (refer to FIGS. 2D and 3D), and thus,
the incorporating opening 26 is closed. As described above, the bearing
support which supports the rotary shaft 22 is not provided on the cover
32. That is, the cover 32 closes the incorporating opening 26, and thus,
a closed space, in which lubricant is enclosed in the casing body 30, is
formed, and the periphery of the incorporating opening 26 of the side
surface 30b of the casing body 30 is stiffened so as not to be deformed.

[0045] Moreover, a recess 32a is formed in the cover 32, and thus, a
portion of the output gear 24C enters the recess 32a (refer to FIGS. 1
and 3C).

[0046] Next, an operation of the speed reduction device G1 will be
described along with manufacturing processes of the speed reduction
device G1.

[0047] In order to manufacture the speed reduction device G1 according to
the present embodiment, first, the casing body 30 and the cover 32 which
configure the casing 16 are prepared. As described above, the input side
opening 34, the incorporating opening 26 to which the gear 24 is
incorporated, and the first bearing supports 36 and 37 and the second
bearing supports 38 and 39 which support the rotary shaft 22 are formed
in the casing body 30.

[0048] Sequentially, the hypoid gear 24A is put into the casing body 30
from the incorporating opening 26, and performs positioning with the
first opening 50 (first inner opening 50A and first outer opening 50B) of
the first bearing support 36 formed in the casing body 30 (also possible
in the first bearing support 37 side).

[0049] Thereafter, the intermediate shaft 22A (to which the intermediate
gear 24B is integrally formed) is inserted from the first opening 50 of
the first bearing support 36, and the hypoid gear 24A, which is
positioned to the first opening 50 in advance, is assembled to the
inserted intermediate shaft 22A (also possible from the first bearing
support 37 side).

[0050] Moreover, the first bearings 60 and 62 are disposed between the
intermediate shaft 22A and the first inner openings 50A and 51A of the
first bearing supports 36 and 37, and the intermediate shaft 22A is
bearing-supported in the casing body 30. In addition, the first retaining
rings 52 and 53 are fitted, and the caps 54 and 55 are covered on the
first outer openings 50B and 51B.

[0051] Sequentially, by the same method as described above, the output
gear 24C and the output shaft 22B are assembled. That is, first, the
output gear 24C is put into the casing body 30 from the portion 26a in
which the opening height h1 of the incorporating opening 26 is formed to
be larger than the outer diameter d2 of the output gear 24C, and performs
the positioning with the second opening 57 of the second bearing support
39 formed in the casing 16 (also possible in the second bearing support
38 side). Sequentially, the output shaft 22B is inserted from the second
opening 57 of the second bearing support 39, and the output gear 24C,
which is positioned to the second opening 57 in advance, is assembled to
the inserted output shaft 22B (also possible from the second bearing
support 38 side). Moreover, the output shaft bearings 64 and 66 are
disposed between the output shaft 22B and the second inner openings 56A
and 57A of the second openings 56 and 57, and the output shaft 22B is
bearing-supported in the casing body 30. In addition, the second
retaining rings 58 and 59 are fitted, and the oil seals 70 and 71 are
covered on the second outer opening 56B and 57B.

[0052] Thereafter, the cover 32 is covered on the incorporating opening 26
and is closed by bolts 80, and finally, the hypoid pinion 20 supported to
the splice casing 12 is inserted into the input side opening 34 and is
engaged with the hypoid gear 24A which is incorporated in advance.
Moreover, the insertion of the hypoid pinion 20 and the engagement
between the hypoid pinion and the hypoid gear 24 may be performed before
or after the incorporation of the hypoid gear 24A.

[0053] By using the above-described manufacturing method, the hypoid
pinion 20 is inserted from the input side opening 34, the gear 24 (hypoid
gear 24A and output gear 24C) is incorporated from the incorporating
opening 26, and the rotary shaft 22 (intermediate shaft 22A and output
shaft 22B) can be incorporated from the first openings 50 and 51 of the
first bearing supports 36 and 37 and the second openings 56 and 57 of the
second bearing supports 38 and 39.

[0054] Since the input side opening 34 is the opening having the minimum
size through which the hypoid pinion 20 can be inserted and the first
bearing supports 36 and 37 and the second bearing supports 38 and 39 are
formed only on the casing body 30 side in which rigidity is easily
secured, the intermediate shaft 22A and the output shaft 22B can be
supported with high strength and rigidity, and rotation can be stably
maintained.

[0055] Particularly, in the present embodiment, the input pinion is the
hypoid pinion 20 (orthogonal pinion), the input side opening 34 and the
incorporating opening 26 are provided on the opposite surfaces 30a and
30b of the casing body 30 respectively, and the first bearing supports 36
and 37 and the second bearing supports 38 and 39 are formed on the
surfaces 30c and 30d which intersect (perpendicular in this example) the
surfaces 30a and 30b on which the input side opening 34 and the
incorporating opening 26 are provided. Accordingly, since the plurality
of openings are not lined up on the same surface, strength or rigidity of
the casing body 30 can be highly maintained.

[0056] Moreover, since the stiffened member 61 made of metal is disposed
in the incorporating opening 26, although the relatively large
incorporating opening 26 is formed, strength or rigidity in the vicinity
of the incorporating opening 26 can be highly maintained.

[0057] Similarly, the tubular portion 46 for connecting the splice casing
12 is formed in the input side of the casing body 30, and the stiffened
member 48 made of metal is disposed in the inner circumference of the
tubular portion 46. In the present embodiment, since the orthogonal
engagement mechanism, in which the hypoid pinion 20 and the hypoid gear
24A are engaged with each other at shaft centers offset to each other, is
adopted in the input side of the gear speed reduction mechanism 14,
support rigidity of the hypoid pinion 20 and the hypoid gear 24A is
needed to be highly maintained. However, due to a synergistic effect of
existence of the tubular portion 46 and the existence of the stiffened
member 48 made of metal, strength and rigidity of the input side can be
highly maintained.

[0058] In addition, since the incorporating opening 26 includes the
portion 26a in which the opening height h1 is larger than the outer
diameter d2 of the output gear 24C incorporated to the output shaft 22B
and the portion 26b in which the opening height h2 is smaller than the
outer diameter d2, the overall opening area of the incorporating opening
26 can be maintained to be smaller while the output gear 24C can be
incorporated. Therefore, with the decrease of the opening area, strength
and rigidity of the casing body 30, particularly, the strength and the
rigidity in the vicinity of the incorporating opening 26 can be
increased.

[0059] Moreover, since the recess 32a is formed in the cover 32 and the
cover is configured so that a portion of the output gear 24C enters the
recess 32a, the overall strength of the cover 32 can be highly maintained
while an increase in the size in the longitudinal direction (axial
direction of the input shaft 18) of the speed reduction device G1 is
avoided.

[0060] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the hypoid pinion
20 (orthogonal pinion) is adopted as the input pinion. However, the gear
speed reduction mechanism of the power transmission device according to
the present invention includes the configuration of the input pinion, and
particularly, the present invention is not limited to the configuration.
That is, for example, the input pinion may be a spur pinion or a helical
pinion. The gear speed reduction mechanism is not absolutely necessary to
include the orthogonal speed reduction mechanism.

[0061] Moreover, in the above-described embodiment, the stiffened member
61 made of metal is disposed in the incorporating opening 26, the tubular
portion 46 for connecting the splice casing 12 which is a motor
connection member is formed in the input side of the casing body 30, the
stiffened member 48 made of metal is disposed in the inner circumference
of the tubular portion 46, and thus, the strength and the rigidity are
further increased. However, the configurations are not absolutely
necessary. On the other hand, the stiffened member is disposed in the
periphery of the bearing disposition portion, and thus, the stiffening
effect may be increased.

[0062] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the incorporating
opening 26 is formed in the shape which includes the portion 26a in which
the opening height h1 is larger than the outer diameter d2 of the output
gear 24C incorporated to the output shaft 22B in the gear 24 incorporated
to the rotary shaft 22, and the portion 26b in which the opening height
h2 is smaller than the outer diameter d2 so that the incorporating
opening 26 has an approximately minimum opening area. However, this
configuration is also not absolutely necessary.

[0063] Moreover, the recess 32a is formed in the cover 32 and a portion of
the gear 24 (output gear 24C) enters the recess 32a. However, this
configuration is not absolutely necessary, and for example, the cover 32
may be a simple flat plate.

[0064] It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiment, but may be modified into various forms on the
basis of the spirit of the invention. Additionally, the modifications are
included in the scope of the invention.